"Don't Walk Away" is a song by American R&B group

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, released in November 1992, by Giant Records as the second single from their debut album, '' Jade to the Max'' (1992). It samples the drums from

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's 1975 song " Jungle Jazz". The song was both written and produced by Vassal Benford III and Ronald Spearman, and peaked at number two on the US ''Billboard''

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chart and number four on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Outside of the United States, it also peaked within the top 10 in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, reaching respectively number seven and nine. Its music video was directed by Eric Meza. The success of the single landed the trio spots on ''

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'', ''

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'', and ''

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'' in the United Kingdom. In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked the song number 52 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time". The bassline of the song was

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for the song " Award Tour", from the album ''

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''. The first verse and chorus were interpolated in

Diplo Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is a co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer; a member of the supergroup LSD (group), ...

and Sleepy Tom's 2015 dance track " Be Right There".

Critical reception

William Cooper from

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felt the song is "so infectious and irresistible", adding that it "may be a familiar tune heard on the radio years after its success". Upon the release,

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the musi ...

from ''

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'' magazine wrote, "' I Wanna Love You' from the soundtrack to ''

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'' laid a fine foundation for this soft-yet-percussive midtempo romp. Charming female trio walks the stylistic line dividing

En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the singl ...

-ish urban flash and Exposé-esque

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flair. Catchy chorus ensures heavy multiformat radio action." In his weekly UK chart commentary,

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said, "The cynic in me has the temptation to label this track as sanitised West coast production pop of the kind US FM radio is so enamoured with. Certainly all-girl groups of this particular genre never seem to make much of an impression over here, except it seems at this time of year. Predictions as to the future chart success of this one are divided but it is harmless and inoffensive enough to be an Easter hit." A reviewer from ''

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'' noted, "Hot on the heels of En Vogue, this female vocal group is already top 10 in the UK. The beat gets any person out of their arm chair, and the lyrics could make a guy walk on clouds." Mark Kinchen for ''

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s ''RM'' Dance Update wrote, "Jade just catches me with great harmonies in the chorus. The trio's great vocals are backed by a slamming

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style track. When you play this one, play it very loud!"

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, written and directed by Eric Meza. He also directed videos for

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and

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. It begins with a group of men hanging out by their cars. One of them is using a

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to call the group. Jade then performs the song as they dance on the sidewalk, while people around them are watching and/or dancing. Other scenes shows the group singing on a staircase in the locality. In the end, the girls are seen in one of the cars, as it slowly drives away.

Legacy

"Don't Walk Away" was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards in 1994, honoring the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the song. In 2017, ''

'' magazine ranked the song number 52 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".

Formats and track listings

* 7-inch vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) * 7-inch vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" #"Looking For Me Do Right" * 12-inch vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (A Cappella Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (TV Walk) * CD single #"Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Lite Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Dark Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Mack Daddy Stroll) #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) * Cassette single #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Javine version

"Don't Walk Away" was

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...

by British R&B singer Javine. It was also released with "

You've Got a Friend "You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song and single by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, '' Tapestry'' (1971). Another well-known version by James Taylor appears on his ...

", a cover of the

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billbo ...

classic, as a double

A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...

. The single peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

Formats and track listings

* CD: 1 # "Don't Walk Away" # "

" * CD: 2 # "Don't Walk Away" # "Don't Walk Away" ( Armand Van Helden club mix) # "Don't Walk Away" (Soda Club edit) # "Don't Walk Away" (Bad Boy remix)

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1992 singles 1992 songs 2004 singles Giant Records (Warner) singles Jade (American group) songs Javine songs New jack swing songs Songs written by Ronald Spearman Songs written by Vassal Benford Virgin Records singles